Daimajin (Arrow) Blu-ray Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Previously issued on Blu-ray by Mill Creek, Arrow's newer mastering and encoding make for an obvious upgrade. Color leaps out immediately, giving Edo period costumes a vivid boost. Primaries stick out, lush and bold. There's an intensity Daimajin never had on prior releases, and compared to the ancient DVDs, a minor miracle.

A nearly pristine print shows hardly any damage, limited to just a few specks of dust on rare occasions. There'e no fading evident, the contrast thick, the black levels intense. When flames erupt during the first act against a blackened night sky, it's catalog Blu-ray bliss, renewing Daimajin's visual range in full.

Generous resolution is able to bring forward previously unseen textures, facial definition prominent and the forest environments splendid even in wide shots. Encoding struggles a little against hazy/foggy scenery, but otherwise resolves a thin grain structure without worry.

Audio

The highest levels in Akira Ifukube's score rattle a bit, unable to hold together, but it's tolerable enough given the overall fidelity in this mono track excels. For vintage audio, this is exceptional clarity and definition. A dramatic low-end from drums sounds equally pure, even powerful. Sensational work by Arrow here.